About

A place where childhood gets to be childhood

Hawthorn Circle Childcare & Preschool is a small, home-based program in Southeast Portland where children have the time, space and freedom to play, explore and grow. Our days are built around child-led play, time outdoors, meaningful relationships and the everyday experiences that make childhood rich.

What makes Hawthorn Circle different

Hawthorn Circle isn’t a miniature school, and I don’t believe young children need every moment of their day directed by an adult. Instead, I create an environment filled with interesting materials, invitations to play and learn, outdoor spaces, books, art, sensory experiences and plenty of room for children to follow their own curiosity.

That might mean building an elaborate world in the sand, mixing something wonderfully muddy in the outdoor kitchen, creating art, investigating the garden, curling up with a book or spending a very long time figuring out how something works. Learning is happening throughout it all—not because we rush children toward the next milestone, but because play gives them meaningful reasons to think, communicate, experiment, create and keep trying.

A home-like place to belong

Because Hawthorn Circle is intentionally small and home-based, children become part of a real community rather than moving through a large institutional setting. They share meals, spend long stretches of their day together, build relationships across ages and learn what it means to be part of a group where everyone belongs.

Our days include familiar rhythms, but they also leave room for childhood to unfold. Children have time to become deeply involved in their play, return to ideas again and again, help with everyday tasks, enjoy meals together and spend a significant part of their day outside.

Growing, learning & getting wonderfully messy

Childhood here is hands-on. Children dig, pour, build, climb, paint, splash, cook, garden, imagine and investigate. They may come home with dirt on their clothes, paint on their hands and a story about something they discovered. That kind of mess is welcome here—it is often evidence of a day spent deeply engaged in playing and learning.

Cared for by someone who knows them

As a small program, Hawthorn Circle gives me the opportunity to truly know each child—the things that delight them, the things that challenge them, how they communicate, how they approach new experiences and what helps them feel secure. That relationship matters. Children learn best when they feel safe, understood and genuinely cared for.

Good food is part of the day, too

Meals and snacks are part of the rhythm of our day, not an interruption to it. I serve meals and snacks that follow USDA meal-pattern requirements, with an emphasis on seasonal, organic and locally sourced foods whenever practical. Children gather around the table together, try new foods, enjoy familiar favorites and experience mealtime as another part of belonging to our little community.

A partnership with families

Families know their children best, and I believe childcare works best when we can communicate openly and work together. Whether we’re navigating toilet learning, changing sleep needs, a new developmental stage or simply sharing something funny that happened that day, my goal is for families to feel comfortable asking questions, sharing information and being part of their child’s experience at Hawthorn Circle.

Come see if Hawthorn Circle feels right for your family

Choosing childcare is about more than schedules and logistics—it’s about finding a place where you can picture your child being known, cared for and happy. If Hawthorn Circle sounds like the kind of childhood you want for your child, I’d love to hear a little about your family.